John Lamont

I am grateful for that intervention. I did not quite catch the first point, but the previous Government had a proud record of improving the lives of people across the length and breadth of Scotland by lifting people and families—and children in particular—out of poverty. That is a record the previous Government are rightly proud of. I wait to hear what the new Government are going to do, and what the Budget will contain. I know from businesses, many communities and residents that there is a great fear of higher tax and more money going out of people’s pockets, which will do nothing to deal with poverty in many communities the length and breadth of Scotland. The Scottish Conservatives are determined to deliver the stronger economic growth our country desperately needs. Under our new leader, Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservatives will put forward a positive vision for the future of our country that champions the values of mainstream Scotland—opportunity, aspiration and decency. We will present positive new policies to fire up Scotland’s economic growth, create opportunities for workers and businesses, and reward aspiration with lower taxation.